Her name is Lila. She's new here," someone said, their voice barely audible. "Lila. Can you hear me?" "Lila! Lila!" I felt a hand tap me, full of life and warmth, but I found it hard to respond. I was lost in the grip of death, my body no longer mine to control.
I slowly opened my eyes, and the blurry haze of tears greeted me. I started crying, the pain of losing my mother flooding back to my senses. The brief respite I had was now replaced with the aching reality. I wondered if it would be better to forget totally, to be free from the pain that lingered in my heart, or to remember and suffer through the anguish. Sister Margaret's gentle voice broke the silence.
"It's going to be fine. You're in an orphanage here. And we will be sure to take care of you." Her words were like a soothing balm, and her assuring smile was a warm comfort. She wrapped her arms around me, holding me close.
"Wipe your tears, my love," she whispered softly, her voice a gentle melody that seemed to calm my racing heart. As she hugged me, I felt a sense of peace wash over me, and for a moment, the pain seemed bearable.
The next day, I was allowed to join the other kids in the field for some playtime. But I just couldn't muster the energy to join in on the fun. Instead, I sat down alone, feeling a bit overwhelmed. That's when I noticed the strange girl sitting next to me. I glanced down at her feet, and again, I noticed she wasn't wearing socks or slippers like the others. I didn't pay much attention to her, lost in my own thoughts. As I gazed out at the kids playing football, their cheers and laughter filled the air, becoming trapped in my head. The sounds echoed continuously, overwhelming me, and suddenly I felt the urge to escape. I got up and ran to the toilet, feeling like I needed to get away from it all.
I continued washing my hands vigorously, staring at my reflection in the mirror as if trying to confront the demons within me. It felt like minutes passed, but I couldn't stop. Suddenly, a cold hand gently grasped mine, collecting the soap from my fingers. I turned to see the older girl standing beside me, her eyes fixed on mine. She handed me a towel, her movements slow and deliberate, and then walked out without uttering a word. I didn't catch a glimpse of her face, as her long, unkempt hair still covered it. As soon as I heard the bell ring, signaling the end of the break, I quickly ran back to my ward.
It had been three days since I arrived at the orphanage, and I was still trying to adjust to the new environment. The morning fitness routine was about to begin, and everyone was on the field, except for the older girl. She sat alone, her head bowed as usual. One of the nuns, Sister Margaret, approached her.
"Mia, it's time for sports," she said gently, trying to rouse her. But Mia didn't respond; she seemed deaf and dumb. The nun tried to help her up, but Mia's demeanor changed in an instant. She screamed loudly, her body trembling, and began behaving erratically, like someone possessed. I rushed to her side, trying to calm her down, but she broke free and tore her clothes, leaving her in just her underwear. She fell to the ground, her limbs flailing wildly.
Sister Margaret scooped Mia up in her arms like a rice scooped on a spoon and rushed inside with her. I felt an inexplicable surge of concern and instinctively followed her. It was as if an unknown force was driving me to ensure Mia's well-being. I chased after Sister Margaret until she reached the spot where she'd laid Mia down. The nurses hurried in and began attending to Mia, their movements swift and efficient. Before long, they'd completed their ministrations and filed out of the room. Sister Margaret turned to me with eyes filled with concern and pure love "Lila, you can go to bed. I'll stay with her." But I hesitated, feeling a strong connection to Mia that I couldn't explain. "No, ma'am. Please let me stay with her," I pleaded. Sister Margaret's expression softened, and she smiled. "Okay, just for tonight." I beamed with joy and hugged her tightly. "Yes, just tonight," I echoed, though I knew I'd end up staying longer. As it turned out, I stayed with Mia for three nights, and Sister Margaret kindly brought me food and stayed with her while I quickly bathed and returned to Mia's side. Her kindness and understanding meant a lot to me, and I felt grateful for her compassion.
A week had passed, and Mia had made a full recovery, but she continued to lead a solitary life. One evening, after we'd finished our meal, I decided to approach her. I walked up to her . "Hey, I'm Lila." I expected her to respond, but she remained still, her head bowed and her hair covering her face. I tried again, asking, "Do you want me to tie up your hair?" To my surprise, she stood up and walked away to the playground, which was deserted at that hour. She sat down on a bench, turning her back to me as if to indicate that I should tie her hair. I took out a hair band from the pocket of my floral gown and gently tied up her hair. As I did, I caught a glimpse of her face, and I was struck by its beauty. But she..
I noticed a deep facial scar around her temple. With curiosity ,I reached out to touch it, but she suddenly turned and bit my hand. I let out a loud cry of pain as her teeth sank into my skin.
"Mia, please! I'm sorry! Mia, stop!" I begged, but she didn't let go.
The other kids rushed out and tried to pry her away from me. By the time they managed to pull her off, my hand was already bleeding profusely. As they dragged her away, the other kids began to chant.
"Witch! Witch!" Sister Margaret rushed out, her face filled with concern, and quickly assessed the situation.
As soon as she saw Sister Margaret, Mia broke into tears. She quickly drew closer to the nun, as if escaping the other kids.
"Stop! Everyone, stop! Why are you calling her a witch? How many times have I warned you desist from negative words" Sister Margaret scolded.